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Is the ultrasound‐estimated bladder weight a reliable method for evaluating bladder outlet obstruction?
Author(s) -
Almeida Fernando G.,
Freitas Danielo G.,
Bruschini Homero
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2010.09881.x
Subject(s) - medicine , bladder outlet obstruction , nomogram , lower urinary tract symptoms , urology , urinary bladder neck obstruction , ultrasound , neck of urinary bladder , international prostate symptom score , prostate , urinary tract obstruction , urinary system , urinary bladder , radiology , cancer
Study Type – Diagnostic (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Based on the observation of bladder mass increase in BOO animal models, it has been suggested that it could be possible to determine the presence of male bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) by ultrasound estimated bladder weight (UEBW). In the present study, we tried to reproduce the results correlating UEBW and BOO without success. Furthermore, we could not find any correlation of UEBW and IPSS. Despite some studies emphasizing the value of UEBW as an efficient non‐invasive method to evaluate lower urinary tract obstruction, our data demonstrate that UEBW did not present any individual correlation with clinical and urodynamic BOO. OBJECTIVE • To evaluate the correlation between ultrasound‐estimated bladder weight (UEBW) in patients with different degrees of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). METHODS • We evaluated 50 consecutive non‐neurogenic male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) referred to urodynamic study (UDS). All patients self‐answered the International Prostate Score Symptoms (IPSS) questionnaire. After the UDS, the bladder was filled with 150 mL to determine UEBW. • Patients with a bladder capacity under 150 mL, a previous history of prostate surgery or pelvic irradiation, an IPSS score <8, a bladder stone or urinary tract infection were excluded. • After a pressure–flow study, the Schafer linear passive urethral resistance relation nomogram was plotted to determine the grade of obstruction: Grades I–II/VI were defined as mild obstruction, Grades III–IV/VI as moderate obstruction, and Grades V–VI/VI as severe obstruction. RESULTS • The UEBW was 51.7 ± 26.9, 54.1 ± 30.0 and 54.8 ± 28.2 in patients with mild, moderate and severe BOO, respectively ( P = 0.130). The UEBW allowed us to define four groups: (i) UEBW <35 g; (ii) 35 g ≤ UEBW < 50 g; (iii) 50 g ≤ UEBW < 70 g; and (4) UEBW ≥ 70 g. • We did not find any differences in age, prostate weight, IPSS, PVR, cystometric bladder capacity, presence of detrusor overactive and degree of obstruction in the aforementioned groups. CONCLUSION • Despite the fact that some studies have emphasized the value of UEBW as an efficient non‐invasive method for evaluating lower urinary tract obstruction, our study suggests that UEBW does not present any individual correlation with LUTS or objective measurements of BOO.